My Arts Evolve When Perfected

"90% development efficiency?" Jiang Qiu’s mouth twitched. "How many more Contribution Points will it take?"

’The higher the development efficiency, the greater the chance of a major metamorphosis from the Advanced Su Fragrance. Plus, it’s related to the most mysterious and ancient sole Demon King of the Northwest Province. The benefits gained from it would surely be immense.’

’I’ve already spent over forty million Xia Coins and six thousand Contribution Points. If I don’t see this through, it will all have been for nothing.’

’But this is such a rip-off. I’ve already spent so much money, and now I have to fork over another huge sum...’

The other end of the line went silent for a moment before dropping four heavy words: "Thirty thousand Contribution Points."

"???"

Jiang Qiu’s pupils trembled, and his heart felt like it had been squeezed by a chicken’s foot. "That many Contribution Points? I think I’ll just go with option one. 60% development efficiency is good enough..."

"I know it’s a huge number, but I suggest you think it over carefully. Or, you could hold off on getting the Advanced Su Fragrance for now and find that expert to develop it once you have enough Contribution Points," Wu Shan said, swallowing hard. "After all, no Advanced Su Fragrance has ever reached a 90% development probability. That’s equivalent to the legendary Dragon Transformation Fragrance used in medicinal baths, but without having to endure the agony of shattered sinews and reforged bones.

Besides, at that level of development efficiency, it’s no less than directly fusing with the bloodline of the Red Flame Spider Mother..."

After a pause, Wu Shan sighed. "If you choose to get the Advanced Su Fragrance now, you can contact Director Zhao to get in touch with that expert. I’ve been selected as an examiner and will have to head to the college entrance exam site soon. You won’t be able to reach me for a while."

"Teacher, you’re going to be an examiner?"

Jiang Qiu was taken aback.

’Even though examiners were chosen every year from the high schools of major cities, as well as the Military Department and the Martial Education Department, most of them, aside from Outer City First Middle School, came from the Inner City.’

’They actually chose someone from Eighth Middle School this year?’

"Mhm. After so many years, I finally got a mission I could take. It’s a good chance to earn some Contribution Points."

His voice was tinged with a smile, and Jiang Qiu could vaguely picture Wu Shan’s fierce grin, like a hunter who’d just heard a sheep bleating in the mountains.

"Alright, that’s enough talk. Contact Director Zhao about the Advanced Su Fragrance. I can’t reveal anything about the college entrance exam.

One last piece of advice: try to get the 90% development efficiency Advanced Su Fragrance if you can. After all, the properties of the Red Flame Spider Mother contained in that mutated Pebble have never appeared in any other material in a hundred years. If you miss out because the development efficiency is too low, it would be the regret of a century.

Hanging up."

"Okay."

The call ended. Jiang Qiu’s eyes were clouded as the word "regret" echoed in his mind.

’Not deciding to develop the Advanced Su Fragrance would be a regret. Not investing more would be a regret. Not getting the best possible quality for the Advanced Su Fragrance would also be a regret.’

’But rumor has it that even the very best Middle Level Su Fragrance can’t compare to a low-efficiency Advanced Su Fragrance. A Martial Artist could benefit for life just from smelling an Advanced Su Fragrance.’

’Just by owning a single dose of Advanced Su Fragrance, I’m already ahead of thousands, even tens of thousands of people. Do I really need to pursue more?’

As this thought crossed his mind, Jiang Qiu shook his head and walked toward the bathroom. His eyes became as clear as pool water, his vertical pupils a jade-like ink-green. "I don’t have that many Contribution Points to begin with. I shouldn’t be thinking about developing a better Advanced Su Fragrance right now. First, I’ll take a medicinal bath with the Gong Su Fragrance, master [Curved Light Arrow] with maximum efficiency, and finish nurturing the [Flood Dragon Jade Sinews].

As for the Advanced Su Fragrance... I’ll deal with that when the time comes."

SPLASH—

The sound of water parted the curtain of steam. Jiang Qiu casually took out the only two portions of Gong Su Fragrance from his Storage Ring, dripped them into the bathtub, and then lay down.

The medicinal bath began.

...

[Archery Transformation]

[Bow Sense]

[Features: The arrow flies before the gaze settles.]

Empowered by his new Metamorphosis Attribute, Jiang Qiu stepped into the Virtual Training Pod and began learning [Curved Light Arrow].

DING—

[Curved Light Arrow is a cornerstone of Tier Two Bow Skills. Many famous techniques of Archery Dao experts are derived from it. It is an extreme test of Qi Blood circulation and requires mastery of the Circulation Qi Technique...]

As the robotic, electronic voice gave its introduction, a faceless training partner materialized. It held a Curved Purple Bow. With a casual pull of the string, it condensed Qi Blood into an arrow and let it fly with a hum.

BOOM—

A streak of red light, like the flick of a divine dragon’s tail, shot across the sky. It traced an extreme arc through the air before slamming into the virtually generated target with a BANG.

"It curves?"

Jiang Qiu narrowed his eyes and drew his [Black Flood Dragon] bow. He focused his mind, his vertical pupils constricting. In his grayscale world, streams of newly generated Qi Blood floated like red fireflies, gathering in his right palm, while the Qi Blood in his body flowed along with [Blood Circulation].

He held his breath. More than ten minutes passed before an unstable, chopstick-shaped arrow finally coalesced at his fingertips.

WHOOSH...

The moment it left the string, it dissipated like a firework.

’This is that difficult?’

Jiang Qiu took a deep breath. He casually pulled a Conical Arrow from his Storage Ring, broke off the arrowhead, and nocked it. Narrowing his eyes, he used [Aim] to lock onto a target he estimated was a thousand meters away. He channeled Qi Blood through his [Black Flood Dragon] bow via [Blood Circulation], drew the string intuitively with his [Bow Sense], and gathered power with [Momentum].

BOOM—

A red laser shot out. It traced a slight downward arc before smashing into the target with a loud BANG, like a log hitting a security door.

The training partner stood by, "observing." Its Curved Purple Bow hung at its side, and it remained silent, not drawing the string a second time for a long while.

[Curved Light Arrow practice x1]

[Curved Light Arrow (Modified)]

[1/10,000]

’Since this Virtual Training Pod is designed for practicing Tier Two Bow Skills, it should be able to withstand being shot by arrows without heads. Once I’ve learned Curved Light Arrow, I’ll go back to forming arrows with Qi Blood.’

With that thought, Jiang Qiu casually took out another arrow.

BOOM—

[Curved Light Arrow practice x1]

[Curved Light Arrow practice x1]

[...]

RING RING RING—

Suddenly, a ringing phone broke Jiang Qiu’s rhythm. He wiped the sweat from his face as the arrow between his right fingers vanished. He then reached into his pants pocket, pulled out his phone, and saw it was a call from Liu Qi.

"Sir, what’s up?"

"The news that you registered a Spear Skill has already reached the various bases of the Military Department and the Martial Education Department in Gao Yuan City. The executive committees of several bases are interested in acquiring [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven] and have approached General Mo. They need your approval."

The voice on the other end of the line was fast and eager. One could imagine Liu Qi, with his already tall frame, standing with his chest puffed out. The faint sound of an old man’s voice could also be heard in the background.

Creating a Spear Skill was a rare event. Those capable of doing so were either Grandmasters or peerless prodigies.

No base would refuse to add a powerful Spear Skill to its registry.

Jiang Qiu remembered Liu Qi mentioning that different bases would award Contribution Points for registering a Spear Skill. "Sir, if I agree, there will be Contribution Points, right?"

"Haha, of course! General Mo is personally rewarding you with 1,000 Contribution Points, which sets a precedent. It means that any base that registers the skill cannot offer less than our Tianjiao Base’s standard of 5,000 Contribution Points. What’s more, for anyone who learns [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven], you will receive over 50% of the Contribution Points they spend. What do you think?"

Jiang Qiu’s eyes lit up. "How many bases?"

"Generally, whenever a new Spear Skill appears, every base in the city with training pods will register it. So, excluding the various development bases, that should be seven bases."

"Okay, I agree!"